Analyst upgrades:

• Wells Fargo upgraded Qualcomm (QCOM) to outperform from market perform. The firm believes key risks have been eliminated, such as the license dispute with Nokia (NOK) and litigation with Broadcom (BRCM), and thinks Qualcomm is well-positioned for handset unit shipments growth. Wells has a $50 to $60 target range on shares.
• Oppenheimer upgraded Juniper Networks (JNPR) to outperform from perform as it views shares as compelling at current levels and thinks the company is well positioned for 2010. Opco set a $31 price target on the stock.
• FBR Capital upgraded Frontline (FRO) to outperform from market perform after raising its rating on the tanker industry to overweight. The firm raised its target on shares to $33 from $23.
• PetSmart (PETM) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Career Education (CECO) was upgraded to equal weight from underweight at Barclays.
• Rosetta Resources (ROSE) was upgraded to buy from neutral at SunTrust.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AAP, FRO, MSFT, QCOM, SUN, WYNN ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AAP, FRO, MSFT, QCOM, SUN, WYNN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Baird upgraded Con-Way (NYSE: CNW) and Old Dominion (NASDAQ: ODFL) to Outperform from Neutral due to the benefits of a likely bankruptcy of YRC Worldwide (NASDAQ: YRCW). Old Dominion's target was raised to $40 from $26 and Con-Way's was raised to $42 from $22.
• Citigroup upgraded Pride International (NYSE: PDE) to Hold from Sell as it believes higher valuation levels are warranted with the upcoming spin-off of Seahawk Drilling. Citi raised its target on shares to $25 from $18.
• Jesup & Lamont upgraded FedEx (NYSE: FDX) to Buy from Hold with a $63 target as it believes the worst is largely behind the company.
• Hewitt Associates (NYSE: HEW) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JPMorgan.
• ArvinMeritor (NYSE: ARM) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
• Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at SunTrust.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANF, FDX, IBM, RBS, SNDK, T

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANF, FDX, IBM, RBS, SNDK, T originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Despite poor jobs & weak news, stocks surprise, Dow, S&P up

Closing Bell: Despite poor jobs & weak news, stocks surprise, Dow, S&P up originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

SINA Corp (NASDAQ: SINA), a Chinese online media company, is scheduled to report Q2 EPS on August 6. SINA August option implied volatility is at 78; September is at 55. SINA average option implied volatility over the last 26-weeks is 58 according to Track Data, suggesting larger August price movement.

The9 (NASDAQ: NCTY), an online game operator headquartered in Shanghai, closed at $22.73. NCTY is scheduled to report Q2 EPS on August 7. NCTY August option implied volatility is at 101, September at 81; above its 26-week average of 69, suggesting larger price movement.

NetEase (NASDAQ: NTES), an interactive online community in China, is scheduled to report Q2 EPS after the market close on August 13. NTES August option implied volatility of 70 is above its 26-week average of 45, suggesting larger price fluctuations.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Option Update: Chinese media stocks' volatility up into EPS & Olympics originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Psychiatric Solutions, hhgregg and Ulta Salon were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Stanford started Psychiatric Solutions (NASDAQ: PSYS) with a Buy rating and $46 target and believes the recent pullback provides an attractive entry point given the company's stable growth and fundamentally strong business.
  
• Oppenheimer initiated hhgregg (NYSE: HGG) with a Perform rating. The firm believes the company's TV business could become much more challenging while housing market weakness could continue to hinder appliance sales.
• Oppenheimer also assumed Ulta Salon (NASDAQ: ULTA) with an Outperform rating and $13 target. The firm believes the company's fundamentals are solid and sees potential upside to valuation.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Piper initiated Ormat Tech (NYSE: ORA) with a Neutral rating and $49 target and Raser Technologies (NYSE: RZ) with a Sell rating and $7 target.
  
• The9 (NASDAQ: NCTY) was assumed at Roth Capital with a Hold rating and $27 target.
  
• Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) was initiated with an Outperform rating and $44 target at BMO Capital.

Analyst initiations: PSYS, HGG and ULTA originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Thomas Weisel upgraded shares of Wright Medical (NASDAQ: WMGI) to Overweight from Market Weight after transferring coverage to another analyst, as they believe the company is well-positioned for continued good near-term performance.
  
• Bernstein upgraded Bristol-Myers (NYSE: BMY) to Outperform from Market Perform citing valuation, growth, and views the company as a potential M&A target.
  
• Jefferies upgraded Tibco (NASDAQ: TIBX) to Hold from Underperform as they believe investor expectations for a buyout will keep the stock steady despite the company's deteriorating fundamentals.

• Independent Bank (NASDAQ: IBCP) was raised to Perform from Underperform at Oppenheimer.
  
• Brinker (NYSE: EAT) was raised at Goldman to Neutral from Sell.
  
• Piper upgraded The9 (NASDAQ: NCTY) to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades: WMGI, BMY and TIBX originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Rodman initiated Targeted Genetics Corporation (NASDAQ: TGEN) with a Market Perform rating, citing lack of key near-term drivers and the absence of definitive proof-of-concept data for its lead arthritis program.
• ING assumed Tesco Plc (OTC: TSCDY) with a Buy rating, citing the company's growing international business.
• Piper initiated The9 Limited (NASDAQ: NCTY) with a Neutral rating and $21 target, citing limited visibility around the company's FY08 and FY09 game releases and a higher risk profile than peers.

• Baird initiated Gladstone Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: GLAD) with a Neutral rating and $19 target.
• Goldman initiated Brazilian banks with an Attractive view, starting Banco Bradesco SA (NYSE: BBD) with a Buy rating, Banco Itau Holding Financeira SA (NYSE: ITU) with a Neutral rating and Unibanco-Uniao de Bancos Brasileiros (NYSE: UBB) with a Sell rating.

Analyst initiations: TGEN, TSCDY and NCTY originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Merriman believes PhotoChannel Networks (OTC: PNWIF) is positioned to become a leading provider to the digital photofinishing market through its offering of a fully-integrated solution to retailers. The firm started shares with a Buy rating.
  
• Jefferies resumed coverage of BioMarin Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ: BMRN) with a Buy rating and $33 target, as they expect strong long-term growth from Aldurazyme and Naglazyme and is optimistic for Kuvan approval and a strong market launch.
  
• ThinkEquity is positive on Double-Take's (NASDAQ: DBTK) impressive operating leverage and valuation and started shares off with a Buy rating and $28 target.
  
• Needham initiated Leapfrog Enterprises (NYSE: LF) with a Strong Buy rating and $11 target. The firm expects Leapfrog to benefit from its turnaround initiatives in 2008 and for shares to be driven by improving sales and profits.

• UBS started J Crew (NYSE: JCG) and American Eagle (NYSE: AEO) with Neutral ratings and targets of $40 and $25, and Gap (NYSE: GPS) and Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) with Buy ratings and targets of $23 and $97.
  
• Goldman initiated The9 (NASDAQ: NCTY) with a Neutral rating. Broadpoint initiated Vocus Inc (NASDAQ: VOCS) with a Strong Buy rating.

Analyst initiations: PNWIF, BMRN, DBTK and LF originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The9 (NASDAQ: NCTY) implied volatility elevated into 8/29 EPS.

NCTY, an online game operator headquartered in Shanghai, is recently down $0.10 to $38.65. NCTY is expected to report EPS on 8/29/07. NCTY has a market cap of $996 million. NCTY September option implied volatility of 79 is above its 26-week average of 59 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

Shanda Interactive (NASDAQ: SNDA) September implied volatility elevated into EPS.

SNDA, an interactive entertainment media company and operator of on line games in China, is recently up $1.56 to $30.68. SNDA has a market cap of $2.2 billion. SNDA is expected to report second quarter EPS on 8/28. SNDA September option implied volatility of 70 is above its 26-week average of 46 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

NetEase (NASDAQ: NTES) implied volatility of 43 above 26-week average of 36.

NTES, an interactive online community in China, is recently down .10 to $16.33. NTES over all option implied volatility of 43 is above its 26-week average of 36 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price fluctuations.

Daily options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Option update: Chinese interactive entertainment-gamers volatility originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) is spending about $167 million for a 15% share in The9 (NASDAQ: NCTY), one of China's largest online game operators. In March, Electronic Arts bought 19% of NeoWiz, a Korean company, for about $105 million.

While these moves into Asia are part of a strategic initiative to develop a stronger distribution network in the region, it got me wondering: If Electronic Arts is in a buying mood, what about Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO)? The company has been plagued by just about every scandal imaginable: options backdating, overstated earnings, porn in video games, etc. But after major institutional investors ousted the company's slimy management, things could be in store for a turnaround. and investors who are fed-up with the company's underperformance may want it to explore a sale.

The prices paid for The9 and NeoWiz might make Take-Two look inexpensive, with its market cap of $1.4 billion, and strong brands, mainly the Grand Theft Auto series (I don't normally play video games, but Grand Theft Auto is amazing).

The shares were up almost 3% today, so maybe investors think Take-Two is a takeover candidate, too. I wouldn't be buying the stock here, given all the problems that are still dogging the company, but there's no arguing that its brands have a lot of value.

Electronic Arts acquires stake in The9: More acquisitions on the way? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 May 2007 20:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Morgan Joseph cut Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) to Hold from Buy on valuation.

• Stifel downgraded Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) to Hold from Buy on valuation.

• Pacific Crest cut shares of The9 (NASDAQ: NCTY) to Sector Perform from Outperform with a $41 target following the disappointing Q1 results and slow start to the second quarter.

• Banc of America downgraded shares of Teekay Shipping (NYSE: TK) and Ship Finance Int'l (NYSE: SFL) to Neutral from Buy on valuation and a lack of near-term catalysts...

• Matrix USA cut Valhi, Inc (NYSE: VHI) to Sell from Hold.

• UBS downgraded Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN) to Neutral from Buy.

Analyst downgrades 5-17-07: BEN, CAT, CMG and TK originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 May 2007 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.